ValuEngine Upgrades MKS Instruments (MKSI) to “Sell”

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) was upgraded by equities researchers at ValuEngine from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 23rd. Cowen set a $100.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 24th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $118.00 to $101.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 25th. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of MKS Instruments from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 25th. Finally, Benchmark reduced their target price on shares of MKS Instruments to $100.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. The stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $118.00.

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Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded up $0.72 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $73.02. 457,274 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 791,147. The company has a current ratio of 5.38, a quick ratio of 3.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.25, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.09. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $56.37 and a twelve month high of $128.28.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 23rd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $487.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $492.88 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 18.76% and a return on equity of 25.57%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.56 EPS. On average, analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 7.78 earnings per share for the current year.

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 375 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.90, for a total value of $29,962.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,231,418.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.67% of the company’s stock.

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 2,582.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 571,277 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $45,787,000 after buying an additional 549,983 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 2,397.4% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 531,926 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $50,905,000 after buying an additional 510,627 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 36.5% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,902,372 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $152,475,000 after buying an additional 508,470 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 277.4% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 549,098 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $44,010,000 after buying an additional 403,590 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 70.0% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 855,654 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $68,581,000 after buying an additional 352,301 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.49% of the company’s stock.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc provides instruments, subsystems, and process control solutions that measure, control, power, deliver, monitor, and analyze critical parameters of manufacturing processes worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Vacuum & Analysis and Light & Motion. The Vacuum & Analysis segment provides analytical and control solutions products, including gas analyzers, automation control products, I/O modules, automation software, and precision machined components and electromechanical assemblies; and materials delivery solutions products comprising flow and valve technologies, as well as integrated pressure measurement and control subsystems to provide customers with precise control capabilities that are optimized for a given application.